Egypt considers new light rail system for Cairo

Egyptian president Sisi has met with a delegation of Chinese firms in Cairo to discuss the construction of a light rail system connecting Cairo with Egypt's proposed new administrative capital, according to China's state news agency Xinhua.President Sisi has reportedly agreed in principle to the project which is being overseen by China's state-owned enterprise company AVIC International and the China Railway Group Limited and would take two years to build.Officials from the Chinese embassy said that an initial agreement was reached but that further negotiations were required, following the 18 July meeting which was attended by Egypt's transport minister Hesham Arafat.The scheme would involve the construction of a 66km-long fast tram system with 11 stops, connecting Cairo's proposed new administrative capital - to be located about 45km east of the city - with Greater Cairo districts such as Al-Salam, Ramadan 10, Obour, Badr and Shorouk.First proposed in 2015, the new city would become Egypt's administrative and financial capital, housing the main government departments and ministries, as well as foreign embassies.